Wednesday 22 July 2009 A pleasant late start to the morning. Im Jeongae from London’s I-MYU gallery happens to be in town, looking after the show of British artists at the Total Museum. We cruise the Samcheong-dong galleries together as the heat of the day becomes slightly cooler, and the daylight light becomes milkier. People … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 176)
LKL v5 launched
Really pleased with the look of the new LKL front page. Now, if only I could figure out custom templates to get blogwatch working again… # [Read More]
Gwanghwamun unveiled
I’m amazed that the Gwanghwamun plaza was ready on time. It was a building site when I passed by only two weeks ago. http://bit.ly/RPuac # Read an in-depth article over on Popular Gusts. [Read More]
Konglish in K-pop
Does Epik High have the same language coach as the Wonder Girls? “-t you” ≠ “choo” #(Epik High: No reason to live withow choo / Wonder Girls: I want nobody nobody bah choo) [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 7: Korea House
Tuesday 21 July 2009 A slowish start to the day. Too much alcohol and food (and salt?) the previous evening, plus the heat and humidity of the Busan weather, meant that sleep did not come easily. A brief tube ride to Busan Station to the KTX for Seoul. On the Busan subway, a whim makes … [Read More]
A strange place for a taegugki…
Just encountered a taegugki among the hazardous plants at RHS Wisley: #. Strange place to find one. [Read More]
August events 2009
Here are the events for August that I know about: Featured event The big Korean Festival takes place at the Fairfield Recreation Ground in Kingston, 15 Aug. After a break last year, the festival is back Exhibitions Cha Jeongrye participates in a group show at Albemarle until 5 September Kim Ayoung’s solo show at I-MYU … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 6: Haeinsa
Monday 20 July 2009 The trip to Haeinsa is via Daegu. A quick tube journey to the inappropriately named Busan Central Bus Terminal – at the northernmost extremity of the Busan public transport system (Nopodong), and then the express bus to East Daegu station takes nearly two hours. Another tube to the Seobu bus terminal … [Read More]
It’s finally happened: Housemaid on DVD
It had to happen eventually. It’s been at the top of every Korean film buff’s most-wanted DVD release for longer than we can all remember. They’ve been working on polishing up the print and subtitles for rather too long. Versions of the film have been available at film festivals for a while – we saw … [Read More]
Korean Literature essay contest
Now here’s the kind of initiative I like. The Korean Cultural Centre has teamed up with the Korean Literature Translation Institute to bring you the inaugural Korean Literature Essay Contest. In what I hope will be the first of many contests of this nature, the subject text is the novel on which Jang Sung-woo based … [Read More]
Naturalized Korean Charm Lee to Head Korea Tourism Organization
A press release announcing the new KTO head. On July 30, 2009, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced that German-born naturalized Korean Charm Lee (55) has been appointed as their new President and CEO. His appointment was based on the Korean government’s decision that he is the most well qualified figure to develop and promote … [Read More]
Many ways to enjoy Korea
The language classes at the Korean Cultural Centre attract a really interesting spectrum of people, from English businessmen to Bae Yong-joon besotted Japanese housewives, via museum curators and people married to a Korean. In my own language classes, apart from the above, was Jo, a TVXQ-obsessed party animal, who was good enough to review their … [Read More]
Crossfields – the official photos of the fashion designs
Here are the official images of the fashion designs on show at the Crossfields exhibition at the KCC, which formally opens tomorrow and lasts until the middle of September. Choi Eudon Choi Jin-woo Heo Hwan Kate Ko Yun-ju Kim Jae-hwan Lee Chung-chung Lee Hyun-shick aka Sean Park Hwan-sung [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 5: Bulguksa and Seokkuram
Sunday 19 July 2009 More World Heritage points today. The Samgyeopsal from last night is still sitting heavily on my stomach and I don’t feel like breakfast. The 9 am KTX from Seoul Station, and the connecting train from East Daegu, went without a hitch, and bang on time. Just before I arrive in Gyeongju … [Read More]
Two versions of the significance of 27 July
First, a press release from the White House, issued on 24 July: National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2009 – – – – – – – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Fifty-six years after the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom, Americans remain grateful for the courage … [Read More]
The LKL Korea Trip 2009 pt 4: Recuperation and the Kilburn Art Space
Saturday 18 July. I think the activity of the previous two days, combined with the time difference, has finally caught up with me. After a slow start to the day I consult the helpful tourist information people in Insadong how best to get to Gyeongju from Seoul. It’s the KTX to East Daegu station, with … [Read More]